MINNEAPOLIS, Sept. 2, 2003 -- Honeywell Automation and Control Solutions (ACS) Service division, Itron Inc. and Badger Meter, Inc. announced that they will provide the City of Augusta, Georgia, with a comprehensive water meter upgrade solution.
Honeywell is the primary contractor for the project, which will install 7,000 Badger water meters equipped with Itron wireless technology. The automatic meter reading (AMR) solution will increase measurement accuracy for the city's progressive utility service. The 10-month project began in July 2003.
Honeywell's services for the project include installation management and ongoing system maintenance. Honeywell also devised the self-funding financing model for the upgrade.
Each of the new meters is equipped with Itron AMR endpoints. The Augusta Utilities Department will use vehicles outfitted with Itron computers and radio frequency transceivers to collect meter data accurately and efficiently, simply by driving past the metered property.
The Badger meters used in the project, which include a variety of sizes, will be equipped with Recordall® Transmitter Registers (RTR®s)that will interface with Itron technology to provide accurate measurement and seamless data transfer.
"The AMR system modernizes our meter-reading process, improving accuracy and increasing customer satisfaction," said Steve Little, assistant director for Finance and Administration for the Augusta Utilities Department. "Honeywell and its partners are leading experts in the meter services industry; the technology teams have a proven track record of delivering excellent results to customers worldwide."
"By working closely with the Augusta Utilities Department during the design process, we were able to develop a customized solution that will deliver long-term value to the city and its customers," said Kent Anson, Vice President and General Manager for Honeywell Energy Services. "The new metering solution will not only help the city operate more efficiently, it will also help generate more accurate and timely billing data for its customers."
Of the project, John Hengesh, Itron's Vice President and General Manager of Water and Public Power, said: "Today's economic realities are driving water companies to provide better, more efficient service - especially to commercial customers. Our AMR technology will help Augusta Utilities successfully serve this vital market segment."
Badger Meter's Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Kenneth E. Smith, said: "We are pleased to be working with Honeywell and Itron to bring an outstanding meter reading system to Augusta."
The City of Augusta serves more than 54,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers. The current project will upgrade meters at 6,000 commercial and industrial, and 1,000 residential sites.
Honeywell International is a diversified technology provider and manufacturer based in Morris Township, N.J. With 2002 revenues of $22 billion, the company serves customers worldwide with aerospace products and services; control technologies for buildings, homes and industry; automotive products; turbochargers; specialty chemicals; fibers; and electronic and advanced materials.
The company's shares are traded on the New York, London, Chicago and Pacific Stock Exchanges. Honeywell is one of the 30 stocks that comprise the Dow Jones Industrial Average; it is also a component of the Standard & Poor's 500 Index. For additional information, please visit www.honeywell.com.
Honeywell ACS Service is part of Honeywell's Automation and Control Solutions group, a global provider of product and service solutions that improve efficiency and profitability, support regulatory compliance, and maintain safe, comfortable environments in homes, buildings and industry. For more information about Honeywell ACS Service, access http://www.acs.honeywell.com/. For additional information about Honeywell's automated meter-reading (AMR) solutions, contact Jessica Nichols at (781) 231-7605 ext.7369.
Itron is a technology provider and critical source of knowledge to the global energy and water industries. More than 2,800 utilities worldwide rely on Itron technology to deliver the knowledge they require to optimize the delivery and use of energy and water. Itron delivers value to its clients by providing industry-leading solutions for meter data collection, energy information management, demand side management and response, load forecasting, analysis and consulting services, transmission and distribution system design and optimization, web-based workforce automation, C&I customer care and residential energy management. To know more, start here: www.itron.com.
Badger Meter is a marketer and manufacturer of flow measurement and control technology, developed both internally and with other companies, as well as the leader in providing digital connectivity to leading AMR technologies. Its products are used to measure and control the flow of liquids in a variety of applications.
